Maputo, 7 Oct (AIM) – Daniel Chapo, the presidential candidate of Mozambique’s ruling Frelimo Party, brought his election campaign to a close in Maputo on Sunday, with a pledge that, if elected, he will do all in his power to restore peace to the northern province of Cabo Delgado, where jihadist groups continue to fight against the Mozambican defence and security forces, and their Rwandan allies.
“Attacking Cabo Delgado is the same as attacking all of us”, he declared. “As Mozambicans, we feel the pain suffered in Cabo Delgado as the pain of all of us”.
A further pillar of his programme for governance, he said, is the fight against corruption. He wanted to end the illicit practice of charging money to accept documents from candidates for employment in the public service.
Corruption, Chapo, said means that “while a group of people enrich themselves, the rest of us become ever poorer”.
Earlier in the day, Chapo and his supporters marched through the streets of the northern port of Nacala. Although Nacala is regarded as an opposition stronghold, a huge crowd greeted Chapo. “I want to be the President of all Mozambicans, without distinction”, he declared. “We shall create the same opportunities for Mozambicans from the Rovuma to the Maputo” (the two rivers that mark the northern and southern boundaries of the country).
His candidature was one of “change and renewal”, he claimed.
Also in Nacala on Sunday was the independent candidate, Venancio Mondlane. Attending his closing election rally was the former mayor of Nacala, Raul Novinte who, like Mondlane, has defected from the main opposition party, Renamo.
The Renamo leader and presidential candidate, Ossufo Momade, closed his campaign in the southern city of Matola. Like Chapo, he promised to fight against corruption.
He promised a governance based on security, which would respect human rights and an independent judiciary.
“When we speak of governance based on security, we are stating that the protection of life, of our territory, and of our freedom will be our central priority”, Momade declared. “For us, living in democracy goes beyond the simple act of voting – it involves the active participation of citizens in the design of public policies, the transparency of government actions, and the responsibility of elected leaders”.
The fourth presidential candidate, Lutero Simango, leader of the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM) officially closed his campaign in Nampula city on Saturday.
Nonetheless, he was back in Maputo on Sunday urging polling station staff not to tamper with the election results. Independent observers have warned of attempts by Frelimo to pack the polling station staff (known as MMVs) with its own members and supporters.
He told the large numbers of teachers who will be working as MMVs on voting day, 9 October, “to comply with the law and not to manipulate the results. Mozambicans want a clean and fair process, so that, at the end of the day, there is a genuine winner”.
Simango stressed that part of his programme “is to guarantee social stability and reduce the gap between the haves and the havenots. The levels of social difference must be reduced”.
The election campaign lasted for 45 days. No campaigning is allowed on the last two days before the vote (Monday and Tuesday), giving the voter a quiet period in which to make up their minds.
(AIM)
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